Leaking PE rug

Shires and weatherbeeta for me, every time! I've experimented with others but none of them measure up, although I've not yet invested in a Rhino!
I never understand why PE rugs are so popular. My 0kg fill rug has always leaked and is only used for emergencies when it's warm and there's a small chance of drizzle. They're heavy when dry and incredibly heavy when saturated.
I've also never understood the obsession people seem to have with PE, everyone at my old yard used to rave about them but I always thought they were more style than substance.
 
I have bought 3 Premier Equine rugs in the last few years - two with 100g fleece filling, and one no fill.
All of them leaked like sieves - didn't seem to be waterproof at all, even from new.
I sent them off for reproofing - still sh1t.
Premier Equine customer service is dreadful too.

Shires or Horseware Rhino are much better.
(Masta also leak like sieves in the milliseconds before they too fall apart).
 
(Masta also leak like sieves in the milliseconds before they too fall apart).

I've had the masta m/w dome neck turnout for the past 3 or 4 years. It's my go to in winter and it survived endless rain and the beast from the east with no problem. Its never let in a drop of rain and is in perfect condition despite its age, the amount of use its had and sharing a field with horses that like to undo neck straps and yank them about 🙄 I honestly cant recommend it highly enough and its 100x better than the m/w PE combo (once I had it repaired) that weight a tonne and constantly ripped despite being something like 1200 or 1600 denier!
 
I do find it strange that people have such different experiences with the same make of rug. I had PE for a few years and they were great albeit heavy and only leaked where they had been ripped and repaired which is fair enough. He's now been bought a Rambo and I will absolutely cry if it leaks as it cost a fortune! I did have a weatherbeeta no fill which was 1200d and came with the 3y warranty. It leaked through the surcingle attachments and the tail flap. Apparently those bits aren't included in the warranty as they aren't designed to be waterproof.... ??? Luckily the shop I used were very good and I swapped for an amigo which has held up very well in the torrential rain. I used to rate weatherbeeta but now put off them too. For every "great" rug story there are an equal number saying they're awful! And we all end up spending lots of money chasing the elusive waterproof well fitting rug :rolleyes:
 
I have a few PE rugs which fit nice and have never leaked, they are a few years old though so perhaps things have changed.
Have found the Masta rugs terrific.
 
My 0g Rambos are totally watertight. Most of mine were bought second hand and I've never been let down by them.

I don't understand why the PE ones get so heavy? the stable rugs seem to be decent but I wouldn't buy a TO, there are so many stories from people who find them useless.
 
My last PE rug leaked like a sieve on the first night, rang the shop & sent photos. The reply was that the pony had stood facing into the wind & rain all night & it has blown inside the neck cover, unlikely & it was wet in the rug not just the neck cover. They said the stitching isn’t waterProof so the rain comes in the holes. I argued with the shop, really awkward as she is a friend. Eventually it had to be sent for “testing” came back & unsurprisingly said it was fine. Argued some more, fell out with friend & got a refund as it clearly wasn’t fit for purpose, she said she lost the money as they wouldn’t refund her. Never again ...
 
There is another factor in play - apart from the denier of the rug material - and that is what the material is made from. IME a 1000d ballistic nylon rug is going to be better (especially when it comes to being long lasting) than a 1200d polyester rug. Some rugs (Rhino) are polypropylene but the outer layer isn't the waterproof layer, it is a second layer that is underneath that top 'tough' outer layer. Even trying to assess it all really logically like that doesn't guarantee a waterproof rug though... if anyone can explain why an old abused (think left on a fence for a bit - ooops) 600d Amigo is still waterproof when the new 1200d Weatherbeeta just wasn't. I must look at the labels to see what they are made from.
 
I emailed PE this morning and they have responded. They have offered to collect the rug and offer a replacement or refund. I’ve asked for a refund.

shame really as I think they are quite nice looking/substantial rugs (ie nice fittings/Velcro straps etc). My Rambo and Amigo rugs are still going strong.
 
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I used to use PE and was always very happy with them.

What denier is the rug?

Actually, I think the Og is only 800 denier, so would be shower proof, not completely waterproof.

but if this is the case, then their product description should say so.
 
I have two Rhino no fill rugs and they are brilliant. They're able to withstand monsoon rain without leaking.

I’ll vouch for Rhino too. I love Rambo but last year for second horse I couldn’t stretch to them so got a 0g and 200g Rhino and both are totally waterproof and tough.
 
I have had one really good waterproof PE and one that was like a sieve. I invested in some tent reproofing liquid and painted it on it and it's been the most waterproof rug I have. I now slap it on everything and anything. Big tin was about 30 quid and has lasted ages.
 
I emailed PE this morning and they have responded. They have offered to collect the rug and offer a replacement or refund. I’ve asked for a refund.

shame really as I think they are quite nice looking/substantial rugs (ie nice fittings/Velcro straps etc). My Rambo and Amigo rugs are still going strong.

Well Done!!

I wish I'd been offered the same considering I was £150ish buying the rug and then had to pay to wash, reproof and repair it before it was useable and even then it still leaked.
 
As an aside, for all the non Irish HHO members who may not have heard....

The horseware factory in Dundalk, Ireland has closed now, so all their rugs (Amigo, Rhino and now Rambo) are made in the far East.

Fiona
 
As an aside, for all the non Irish HHO members who may not have heard....

The horseware factory in Dundalk, Ireland has closed now, so all their rugs (Amigo, Rhino and now Rambo) are made in the far East.

Fiona

That's such a shame. :(

I checked my waterproof 600d Amigo and the non-waterproof 1200d Weatherbeeta and they are both polyester. I think I shall give up trying to predict waterproofness and just buy some tent reproofer as suggested up the thread.
 
There was a twittereventing thread a wee while back about re-waterproofing rugs, and the name they all suggested was FABSIL.

I'm going to get some as my ruggles LW rugs aren't very waterproof any longer :(

Fiona
 
The horseware factory in Dundalk, Ireland has closed now, so all their rugs (Amigo, Rhino and now Rambo) are made in the far East.

Fiona
Oh, boo. The factory where they filmed that fantastic ad with the horses? I knew that the cheaper rugs were made in China, but that Rambos were made in Ireland. What a shame.

I’ve just bought a new Rambo Varilayer turnout from Edgemere. According to the sewn in label it was made in Ireland, it must be old stock. I shall cherish it.
 
As an aside, for all the non Irish HHO members who may not have heard....

The horseware factory in Dundalk, Ireland has closed now, so all their rugs (Amigo, Rhino and now Rambo) are made in the far East.

Fiona

According to their website, the Rambo range is still made at the Dundalk factory, where they employ 172 people. They also own and run their own factories in China and Cambodia,instead of out sourcing and employing over 500 people.
 
Oh, boo. The factory where they filmed that fantastic ad with the horses? I knew that the cheaper rugs were made in China, but that Rambos were made in Ireland. What a shame.

I’ve just bought a new Rambo Varilayer turnout from Edgemere. According to the sewn in label it was made in Ireland, it must be old stock. I shall cherish it.

It happened recently I believe....

Fiona
 
According to their website, the Rambo range is still made at the Dundalk factory, where they employ 172 people. They also own and run their own factories in China and Cambodia,instead of out sourcing and employing over 500 people.

It's about 20 miles away from us, we visited their factory shop regularly.

Possibly they haven't updated their website?

Fiona
 
My very first PE rug leaked - about 10 ish years ago and I didn’t buy another until I won a PEBuster zero in one of their Facebook competitions & it is waterproof and a great fit on a cob - HOWEVER I’ve just bought the Titan 40g buster and it knocks the zero out of the park for fit, waterproofing & performance
I think they originally used 600D others hebce my first leaky rug and the Titan is a 1680D ....I only use 40 & 70g PEs as IMO the heavier weights are just too heavy and I’m old and can’t heave them about. My zero, 40g & 70g are all Buster or titans & never leak - imo the newer lighter/cheaper jazzy design ones have more issues judging by the number on Facebook for sale. My cob has outgrown his Titans & I always have my hand snapped off when reselling.
 
My PE rugs have been wonderful! Both my two have the Tybalt Stratus ones for the proper winter months (100g for my welshy and 200g for the constantly injured ISH)
Admittedly I do find them heavy when wet, but they've never leaked and even the 100g is plenty warm enough in frosty, freezing conditions

Never tried the no fill ones but I've never found a no fill rug that stands up to the torrential rain we've been experiencing lately. The ponies have been in Amigos and both have been leaking (admittedly we're in the third year of having them and they've only started leaking recently), my boy's Bucas has been horrendous and I worry every time we get torrential rain, and the shetland's Ruggles rug was terrible from the first instance of rain.

I'm saving for some 50g Amigos or Shires tbh because I find if there's some filling in it then it holds up against the rain better!
 
Know how you feel. After raving about my Ruggles rug to everyone, my no fill one is useless - the rain goes straight through it. Are any no fill rugs waterproof for long?

I had a similar experience with my Ruggles light weight turn out earlier this year,. The rug was fairly new and had hardly been worn. My sharer bought my pony in after a night out in rain. He was soaked as the rain had gone right through. I contacted Ruggles and they picked the rug up by courier and sent me another one.
 
Ooooh, tent reproofing liquid... H'mm, thank you! I have a masta + neck cover that was a 'bargain' in the sale (ages ago, at least pre 2007 as it was bought for Catembi) and right from the word go it was about as waterproof as a sponge. However, it's extremely warm... Might have to attack it with tent reproofer & see what happens! Probably one of the straps will fall off or it will tear...

Iro no-fill waterproof rugs - I have a couple of ancient FAL rugs from when FAL were good & both are still waterproof!
 
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